Thunder signs ex-NHL goalie

Former Florida Panthers goaltender Brian Foster has signed a free-agent contract with the Thunder.

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By The Record

recordnet.com

By The Record

Posted Aug. 21, 2013 at 12:01 AM

By The Record

Posted Aug. 21, 2013 at 12:01 AM

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Former Florida Panthers goaltender Brian Foster has signed a free-agent contract with the Thunder.

Foster, 26, spent parts of the past three seasons with the Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL and went 46-24-7 with a 2.62 goals-against average and a .908 saves percentage in 80 games. He was the franchise's Goaltender of the Year and Rookie of the Year in 2010-11 and made his NHL debut with the Panthers in 2011-12.

"Goaltending is such a huge part of your team and we're confident that Brian will play a major role in our success," Stockton coach Rich Kromm said in a statement. "He performs at a level that gives our team confidence, knowing he'll compete every night. Any time you can add a goaltender who carries his athletic and psychological abilities, it means immediate improvement."

Foster went 19-7-4 with a .907 saves percentage and 2.67 goals-against average last season for Cincinnati. He also went 1-3-0 for the San Antonio Rampage of the American Hockey League.

On Feb. 15 against Trenton, Foster became the 11th goaltender in ECHL history to score a goal. He was the last Cyclone to touch the puck before it went into an empty net on a delayed penalty.

"I'm very excited about the opportunity to play in a great place like Stockton," Foster said in a statement. "I talked to a lot of friends in hockey this summer and everyone had great things to say either about Stockton or the reputation of coach Kromm. It's a program that went far last year and has aspirations of repeating its success. It will be thrilling to get started moving in that direction."

The Thunder will unveil its Western Conference championship banner when it starts the 2013-14 season at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 19 at Stockton Arena against the Colorado Eagles.